JP2013526879A - Microbial detection and quantification - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for detecting and measuring viable microorganisms in a sample suspected of containing said microorganisms, comprising: (1) contacting said microorganisms of said sample with a repair compound and a growth medium; and (2) Incubating the product of step (1), and (3) detecting and measuring the viable microorganism, wherein the microorganism is a species of Legionella pneumophila and the repair compound comprises (a ) serine, (b) threonine, (c) dose ^10-6 compound containing calcium ions ^-2 mM, compounds containing magnesium ions (d) dose ^10-6 to ^-2 mM, (e) potassium A method comprising an ion-containing compound, (f) glutamic acid or a salt thereof, and (g) pyruvic acid or a salt thereof. The present invention also discloses a kit for detecting and measuring viable microorganisms of Legionella pneumophila species in a sample suspected of containing said microorganisms.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for detecting and measuring viable microorganisms of Legionella pneumophila species in a sample. The invention also includes kits suitable for use in such methods. This method and kit allows for more rapid quantification of viable microorganisms.

  Legionella bacteria are endemic in moist or moist environments, such as soils and non-marine aquatic environments. Legionella bacteria can also be found in hot and cold water equipment, air conditioning system cooling towers and water humidifiers.

  Legionella, especially Legionella pneumophila, is a pathogen that can cause acute bacterial pneumonia and is generally known as “Legionella disease”, which is often fatal to infected individuals.

  Conventionally, detection and measurement of Legionella pneumophila has been achieved by cell culture. This method may be accomplished by measuring culturable bacteria using plate counts or by measuring microcolony using the filter membrane method. These techniques assess viable bacteria by their ability to form colonies or microcolonies. Unfortunately, such methods usually require 3 to 10 days to form colonies or microcolonies. If the water facility is still in operation, there is an unacceptable risk of human infection during this time.

  Other methods for detecting all Legionella microorganisms include PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology. PCR utilizes a DNA polymerase for amplification of a piece of DNA by in vitro enzymatic replication. During the progress of this technique, the generated DNA is used as a template for amplification that results in a chain reaction in which the DNA template is logarithmically amplified. PCR allows single or several copies of DNA pieces to be amplified by making millions of copies of DNA pieces. Typically such methods are described by Diederen et al., J Med Microbiol. 2007 Jan; 56 (Pt 1): 94-101.

  However, a drawback of PCR is that the sample tends to contain a polymerization inhibitor and therefore does not consistently provide quantitative results. Furthermore, this technique relies on previous DNA purification steps that can result in DNA loss with consequent underestimation of Legionella presence. To some extent, these disadvantages are overcome by real-time PCR, which is quantitative. However, this technique cannot distinguish between live and non-live cells.

  Another technique is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in which an oligonucleotide probe labeled with a fluorescent material enters a bacterial cell. If a ribosomal nucleic acid (rRNA) has the correct sequence for a probe known as a target, the probe will attach itself to the target and will not be removed by any subsequent washing steps. . The bacterium to which the probe is immobilized then emits a fluorescent signal. This fluorescent signal may then be quantified by techniques such as flow cytometry, solid phase cytometry or epifluorescence microscopy. A typical FISH technique is described by Dutil S et al in J Appl Microbiol. 2006 May; 100 (5): 955-63. However, using only FISH technology, the total number of viable Legionella pneumophila can be detected, but unfortunately this method excludes only Legionella pneumophila bacteria that can divide and eventually colonize. Cannot be identified automatically.

  A further method for measurement of viable Legionella pneumophila involves Chem-Chrome V6 and is described by Delgado-Viscogliosi et al Appl Environ Microbiol. 2005 Jul; 71 (7): 4086-96. This method allows quantification of Legionella pneumophila and differentiation between live and non-viable bacteria. This combines the use of epifluorescence microscopy for specific detection and counting of Legionella cells using antibodies and bacterial viability markers (Chem-Chrome V6). However, although this technique distinguishes between viable and non-viable cells, it is not possible to identify colony-forming bacteria separately.

  US 20070218522 describes a method and composition for the detection and quantification of viable Legionella and other heterotrophic aerobic bacteria, and this method absorbs for rapid detection and quantification of Legionella microcolonies. Including the use of dipslides containing media, growth promoting substances and growth selective substances. This technique does not count damaged bacteria.

  EP 1329515 relates to a test method for the presence of microorganisms in a gas environment comprising hydrogen peroxide by contacting the gas environment with an agar growth medium comprising a salt of pyruvate and allowing the growth of microbial colonies.

  Techniques involving colony growth on the growth medium, such as nutrient agar plates, are generally considered more accurate. Therefore, this plate count method remains the preferred choice of method for obtaining a total survival count. This generally means applying a sample suspected of containing microorganisms onto a plate containing a solid nutrient source or growth medium. Such a technique is generally referred to as plating. By total survival count we mean the total number of bacteria that can produce a population recognizable by the observer. Typically this means a visible colony on the surface of a growth medium such as a nutrient agar plate.

  However, microorganisms in the environment, such as Legionella pneumophila, may be exposed to one or more stresses that prevent the microorganism from growing and proliferating in the environment. Such stressed microorganisms do not divide at all or form visible colonies under normal culture conditions. In this environment, some microbial cells are generally stressed due to environmental conditions such as starvation, the presence of biocides, heat shock and dehydration. In addition, these cells may be in a physiological state that is susceptible to attack, in which microbial plating techniques may exacerbate the stressing of already stressed microbial cells due to the presence of atmospheric oxygen. . Furthermore, this can lead to the artificial death of this stressed bacterium, leading to an underestimation of the overall survival count.

  In addition, underestimation of surviving Legionella pneumophila with the plating method can be detrimental with regard to its pathogenicity.

  Since the 1970s it has been reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers should be used to limit the effects of oxidative stress during the plating process. This is speck et al, repair and enumeration of injured coliforms by a plating procedure, Appl Microbiol 29, 549-50 (1975); Martin et al Catalase: its effect on microbial enumeration.Appl Environ Microbiol 32, 731 -4 ( 1976); Brewer et al Beneficial effects of catalase or pyruvate in a most-probable-number technique for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus.Appl Environ Microbiol 34, 797-800 (1977); McDonald et al, Enhanced recovery of injured Escherichia coli by compounds that degrade hydrogen peroxide or block its formation.Appl Environ Microbiol 45, 360-5 (1983); Marthi et al) Resuscitation effects of catalase on airborne bacteria.AppI Environ Microbiol 57, 2775-6 (1991); Busch and Donnelly Development of a repair-enrichment broth for resuscitation of heat-injured Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua.Appl Environ Micro-biol 58, 14-20 (1992); and Dukan et al, Oxidative stress defense and deterioration of growth-arrested Escherichia coli cells. J Biol Chem 274, 26027-32 (1999).

  However, in all of the above cases, the inventors of the present invention believe that ROS is reduced by a direct route by which the compound chemically reacts with ROS.

  Berube et al, "Rapid detection and identification of Legionella pneumophila by membrane immunoassay", Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1989, 55, 1640-1641 describes detection and identification of Legionella pneumophila by immunoblot assay using monoclonal antibodies doing. No means are given to deal with the problem of damaged bacteria.

  A reference by Pine et al (Role of keto acids and reduced-oxygen-scavenging enzymes in the growth of Legionella species. J Clin Microbiol 23, 33-42 (1986)) shows that the addition of keto acids and reduced oxygen scavenging enzymes He explained that it is necessary to optimize the growth of Legionella pneumophila and proposed to use these materials in the media used for standard measurements of this microorganism.

  However, the use of keto acids and reduced oxygen scavenging enzymes alone is not sufficient to repair this stressed Legionella pneumophila cell so that it can be accurately measured. This is especially true when using a specific growth medium for Legionella pneumophila, such as a buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar medium. In fact, data on standard media optimization useful for accurate measurement of Legionella pneumophila is not available.

  WO 2009 121726 detects a living Legionella pneumophila microorganism in a sample by contacting the microorganism with at least one repair compound and a growth medium, followed by steps of incubation and detection and quantification of the living microorganism. And the method of measuring will be described. The repair compound directly or indirectly affects metabolism to reduce the oxidative stress of the microorganism. Repair compounds containing pyruvic acid and glycolic acid have been proposed. This method provides an excellent means for more accurately measuring the survival Legionella pneumophila in a shorter period of time than conventional methods.

  However, it would be desirable to provide an improved method for measuring survival Legionella pneumophila more accurately and more quickly. It would also be desirable to achieve this over a wider spectrum of Legionella pneumophila strains.

Thus, according to the present invention, we provide a method for detecting and measuring viable microorganisms in a sample suspected of containing the microorganisms, comprising:
(1) contacting the microorganism of the sample with a repair compound and a growth medium; (2) incubating the product of step (1); and (3) detecting and quantifying the viable microorganism. Wherein the microorganism is a species of Legionella pneumophila and the repair compound comprises:
(A) serine,
(B) threonine,
(C) a compound containing calcium ions at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM,
(D) a compound containing magnesium ions at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM,
(E) a compound containing potassium ions,
(F) glutamic acid or a salt thereof,
as well as,
(G) A method comprising pyruvic acid or a salt thereof is provided.

  We have found that the use of these compounds used together as repair compounds in this method has significantly reduced the latency of Legionella pneumophila microorganisms. In fact, we have found that this is achieved over a wider spectrum of Legionella pneumophila strains.

  Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the combination of pyruvate, glutamate and certain concentrations of calcium and magnesium ions has a useful effect in removing or reducing oxidative stress, either directly or indirectly, and While serine and threonine promote this metabolism, potassium ions are believed to reduce osmotic shock. It is believed that this particular combination of repair compounds provides a synergistic improvement in removing or reducing oxidative stress, reducing osmotic shock and promoting metabolism, thereby achieving the objects of the present invention.

  In the present invention, the desired dose of serine or threonine may be 0.01-5% based on the mass of repair compound relative to the volume of the sample. Desirably this is usually in the range of 0.05-2.5%, for example 0.1-2%, often 0.5-1%. Glutamic acid (or a salt thereof) and / or pyruvic acid (or a salt thereof) is used at a desired dose of 0.01-5% based on the mass of the repair compound relative to the volume of the sample. Desirably this is often in the range of 0.05-2.5%, such as 0.1-2%, often 0.5-1%.

  Each compound containing calcium ions, magnesium ions or potassium ions may be any suitable salt. Desirably they must be at least sufficiently water soluble to allow the desired dose. The salt may have any suitable counter ion. The person skilled in the art understands that in any case this counterion must not be a known toxin for microorganisms such as Legionella pneumophila. Typically, the counter ion includes, but is not limited to, chloride ion, sulfate ion, nitrate ion and the like.

As indicated above, if this compound contains calcium ions, it should be used at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM, preferably 10 ⁻⁵ to 10 ⁻³ mM, more preferably Is in the range of 5 × 10 ⁻⁴ 5 × 10 ⁻³ mM, especially about 10 ⁻⁴ mM. For compounds containing magnesium ions as indicated above, this dose is desirably 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM, preferably 10 ⁻⁵ to 10 ⁻³ mM, more preferably 5 × 10 ⁻⁴ to Within the range of 5 × 10 ⁻³ mM, especially about 10 ⁻⁴ mM.

The repair compound comprising potassium ions is desirably 1 to 10 ⁻⁴ mM, such as 10 ⁻¹ to 10 ⁻³ mM, more preferably 5 × 10 ^{−1 to} 5 × 10 ⁻² mM, especially about 10 ⁻² mM. Should be used at doses that may be.

  Repair compounds are used together, meaning that they may be used simultaneously or sequentially. By sequential we mean adding each compound substantially one after another. Simultaneously means that two or more repair compounds are added to the sample at the same time. It may be desirable to combine two or more repair compounds into one formulation, thereby eliminating the separate addition of repair compounds.

  We believe that the repair compounds pyruvate, glutamate, calcium and magnesium content directly or indirectly affect microbial metabolism so as to reduce microbial oxidative stress. In this way we believe that pyrbert, glutamate, calcium and magnesium containing repair compounds act on microorganisms endogenously.

  By oxidative stress we mean an imbalance between the ROS concentration (endogenous production or exogenous addition) and the ability of the microorganism to easily detoxify reactive intermediates or to efficiently repair the resulting damage To do.

  Such disruption of the normal metabolic processes of microorganisms can cause toxic effects due to the formation of free radicals and oxidants such as peroxides, which can be components of microbial cells such as DNA, proteins or lipids. May lead to damage.

  To cause an effect on the metabolism of microorganisms means to bring about changes in the natural internal chemical processes within the microbial cells.

  With reference to endogenous, it is meant that changes are made in the microbial cells to reduce oxidative stress. This may be, for example, a change to a metabolic process within the microorganism. This may also include removal of ROS in the microbial cells.

  Furthermore, it is believed that pyruvate, glutamate, calcium ions and magnesium ions may directly or indirectly inhibit the formation of ROS and / or degrade ROS. Such compounds that exert an indirect action on ROS may do this by interfering with microbial metabolism. Such a combination of repair compounds may be considered to indirectly reduce endogenous ROS, for example during aerobic respiration.

  Potassium compounds help to reduce osmotic shock. By osmotic shock we mean an imbalance of solute concentration between the environment surrounding the cell and the cell. This imbalance can cause rapid changes in water movement through the cell membrane and can lead to cell damage. Damaged or aged cells are more sensitive to osmotic stress and can lose viability due to this type of stress.

  Serine and threonine are believed to modify microbial metabolism. By this we mean that serine and threonine are involved in metabolic pathways that are believed to directly or indirectly induce metabolic rates that are promoted in cells with limited or reduced metabolism. Using these two molecules, the cells could show improved growth.

  Desirably, the aforementioned combination of repair compounds according to the present invention synergistically improves the combination of reducing or eliminating ROS, reducing osmotic shock and improving metabolism. This is especially true for the broader spectrum Legionella pneumophila strain than was previously possible.

  We have found that this method induces the repair of stressed Legionella pneumophila cells over a broader spectrum of Legionella pneumophila strains, thus providing a more accurate overall survival count. Unexpectedly we have also found that the method further reduces the length of incubation time required. In general, we find that the method can reduce the incubation time for several hours, in some cases at least one or two days.

  Unexpectedly, we have also found that the method of the present invention can result in a reduction of interfering microorganisms, ie microorganisms other than Legionella pneumophila.

  The method of the present invention suitably involving contacting a stressed Legionella pneumophila microbial cell with a combination of repair compounds of the present invention comprises, as desired, inhibiting ROS formation and / or reducing ROS and / or It removes ROS, reduces osmotic stress and improves metabolism, and this tends to induce repair of stressed cells.

  Legionella pneumophila microorganisms may be contacted directly with the repair compound during sample collection. Thus, the container in which the sample of water (which is believed to contain microorganisms) is recovered may already contain the repair compound. Alternatively, when a sample of water containing Legionella pneumophila is collected, it may be diluted with dilution water containing the repair compound for analytical purposes. In another alternative, the sample is optionally diluted, but may be contacted with a growth medium that includes a repair compound, or the repair compound may be applied after contacting the microorganism with the growth medium. Once the sample is collected, it may be desirable to store the sample until it is convenient to perform the method of the present invention. It may be desirable to incorporate all repair compounds during storage.

  Preferably, all repair compounds used together according to the present invention are contacted with the microorganism during the dilution process or during sample storage.

  One form of the present invention desirably contacts the sample with a repair medium, preferably a non-selective repair medium comprising the repair compound, which is then contacted with a growth medium, preferably a selective growth medium. Accompanied by. Preferably, the repair medium is a liquid, more preferably a bouillon. If the repair medium is a liquid, this is preferably referred to as a liquid repair method. Typically, in a liquid repair method, the sample is first introduced into a liquid medium containing the combination of the present invention. Ideally, liquid repair methods allow stressed bacteria to repair in a non-selective liquid medium. Preferably, the liquid restoration method employs bouillon as the liquid medium. In general, the liquid medium containing Legionella pneumophila microorganisms is then transferred to the growth medium. The stressed microorganisms are either repaired before transfer to the growth medium or are repaired upon contact with the growth medium. More preferably, the growth medium is a selective growth medium. Typically, the liquid medium containing the microorganisms is seeded on a selective growth medium plate, such as a selective agar growth medium plate.

  In an alternative preferred form, step (1) comprises contacting said sample with a growth medium, preferably a non-selective growth medium (comprising a combination of said repair compounds), which is then contacted with a repair medium (also said said Contact with a restorative compound). Preferably, the repair medium is a non-selective repair medium, more preferably a solid, particularly preferably a selective agar growth medium. If the repair medium is a solid, this is called a solid repair method. Typically, solids repair methods involve contacting the sample with a non-selective growth medium (including a combination of the repair compounds described above according to the present invention). This can subsequently be contacted with a selective growth medium comprising a repair compound or a combination of repair compounds. In this form, the selective component and the compound or compounds that prevent, reduce or eliminate the formation of ROS diffuse into the non-selective medium. Desirably, the non-selective growth medium may be a non-selective agar growth medium. Preferably, in this form, the sample can be seeded on any non-selective agar and then a selective agar growth medium (one or more compounds that prevent, reduce or eliminate the formation of ROS). Are overlaid on a non-selective agar growth medium.

  In a further alternative form, the sample may be applied to a selective growth medium that already contains a combination of repair compounds. Such a selective growth medium may be a selective agar growth medium. The sample plating may be performed as previously described.

  In a further alternative form, the sample may be recovered from water in the form of an aerosol. Typically, the aerosol may be in a cooling tower or air conditioner. Desirably, water is condensed from the aerosol prior to testing according to the method of the present invention. In an alternative preferred form, step (1) comprises contacting the sample from the aerosol with a non-selective repair medium comprising a combination of dilution water containing the repair medium, preferably a repair compound, which is then also repaired. Contacting with a growth medium comprising a combination of compounds.

  In all of the foregoing aspects of the invention, the growth medium is preferably suitable for the growth of Legionella pneumophila. Suitable growth media types are recorded in the literature and are well known to those skilled in the art. It is usually desirable for the growth medium to include activated carbon and cysteine.

  It is preferred that the selective growth medium is a selective agar growth medium, more preferably a buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar growth medium. The BCYE growth medium is made selective by the addition of antibiotic supplements. A highly desirable BCYE growth medium with antibiotics is known as GVPC (Glycine, Vancomycin, Polymixin B, Cycloheximide).

  Plating methods are recorded in the literature and are well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, this method involves applying large quantities of these water samples onto an agar gel that is placed in a petri dish. This may be referred to as the Petri dish method or the agar plating method. The purpose of agar plating is to spread an aliquot, typically 100 μl of water suspected of containing microorganisms (called a bacterial suspension) onto a solid medium in a petri dish. Glass beads or cell scrapers can be used to stretch bacterial suspensions on agar plates. After stretching, most of the liquid is absorbed by the agar and a thin layer with bacteria remains on the agar surface. By incubation, bacterial growth in the form of colonies developed on the agar surface. Incubations are performed at temperatures most suitable for the microorganism, which are well documented in the literature and well known to those skilled in the art. Typically, this temperature is 30 ° C to 50 ° C, for example about 37 ° C.

  It is desirable that the repair compound combination be added in an amount effective to reduce the oxidative stress of the microorganism. Preferably this is an amount effective to reduce or substantially eliminate ROS in the microbial cell.

  In fact, we have found that the use of a combination of repair compounds results in a significant reduction in the induction period during Legionella pneumophila development, especially in liquid media. Such a decrease in induction period in liquid media results in a decrease in the time required to obtain visible colonies on the agar plate.

  It may also be desirable to include keto acids and / or reduced oxygen scavenging enzymes in the repair medium and / or growth medium. Keto acids and / or reduced oxygen scavenging oxygen are not considered repair compounds of the present invention. Nevertheless, it may be useful to include one or both of these compounds in any of the aforementioned combinations of repair compounds.

  Detection and quantification of viable microorganisms can be performed by any of the known techniques recorded in the literature. Typically this means a count of visible colonies on the surface of the growth medium, eg nutrient agar plates.

  The method of the present invention facilitates an accurate quantitative determination of Legionella pneumophila survival. Furthermore, the incubation time may be significantly reduced. The method is suitable for detection of Legionella pneumophila in a sample derived from any of the group selected from industrial cooling water, drinking water and natural water.

The present invention also incorporates a kit for more accurately detecting and measuring viable microorganisms of Legionella pneumophila species in samples suspected of containing the microorganisms, including:
(1) a repair compound,
(2) Growth medium
(3) incubation means,
(4) Means for detection and quantification of microorganisms,
In this case, the microorganism is a species of Legionella pneumophila, and the repair compound includes (a) serine,
(B) threonine,
(C) a compound containing calcium ions,
(D) a compound containing magnesium ions,
(E) a compound containing potassium ions,
(F) glutamic acid or a salt thereof,
And (g) pyruvic acid or a salt thereof.

  The kit may include any of the embodiments described with respect to the first aspect of the invention.

  This kit is suitable for use with the method of the present invention and allows for a more accurate measurement of Legionella pneumophila, especially for the broader spectrum Legionella pneumophila strain.

  The following examples illustrate the invention.

Examples Compound Selection and Determination of Optimal Concentrations To measure the effect of various compounds, two scales are compared: latency and growth rate are observed in culture medium and supplemented medium without supplementation. For simplicity, the latency is estimated by the time required to obtain an optical density of 0.1 at 600 nm. For all tested compounds, the latency increase (represented by GT) is obtained by the difference between the latency obtained with the reference medium (YEC) and the latency obtained with the supplemented medium. Under the same conditions, the growth rate ratio (represented by RVC) is defined as the ratio between the growth rate obtained with the reference medium and the growth rate obtained with the replenished medium (YEC + X). In the reference medium (YEC), L.I. Pneumophila strains have a time difference of 5-15 hours and require about 10 hours to reach an optical density of 0.1-0.3 (expressed as OD).

  When using serine or threonine as a repair compound, an improvement in latency and / or growth rate is observed for various Legionella pneumophila strains in each case. Over a range of doses, for example, improvements can be seen with an optimal dose of about 1 g / liter, 0.01% to 5% of the mass of the compound relative to the volume of the sample.

An improvement in latency and / or growth rate is observed for a number of Legionella pneumophila strains when calcium chloride or magnesium chloride is used at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM, especially 10 ⁻⁴ mM. .

Improvements in latency and / or growth rate are observed for a number of Legionella pneumophila strains when potassium chloride is used at a dose of 1-10 ⁻⁴ mM, especially about 10 ⁻² mM.

Particularly efficient repair compound combinations include the following:
Combination A
1 g / liter pyrbert, 1 g / liter serine, 1 g / liter threonine, 1 g / liter glutamic acid, 10 ⁻⁴ mM calcium chloride, 10 ⁻⁴ mM magnesium chloride.

Combination B
1.5 g / l Pyrbert, 1.5 g / l serine, 1.5 g / l threonine, 1 g / l glutamic acid, 10 ⁻⁴ mM calcium chloride and 10 ⁻⁴ mM magnesium chloride.

Combination C
2 g / l Pyrbert, 2.5 g / l serine, 1 g / l threonine, 1 g / l glutamic acid, 10 ⁻⁴ mM calcium chloride, 10 ⁻⁴ mM magnesium chloride and 1.16 × 10 ⁻² mM potassium chloride.

  This result shows that some combinations are beneficial for growth, especially in liquid media containing different strains.

Claims (9)

A method for detecting and measuring viable microorganisms in a sample suspected of containing said microorganisms, comprising:
(1) contacting the microorganism of the sample with a repair compound and a growth medium; (2) incubating the product of step (1); and (3) detecting and quantifying the viable microorganism.
Wherein the microorganism is a species of Legionella pneumophila and the repair compound is
(A) serine,
(B) threonine,
(C) a compound containing calcium ions at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM,
(D) a compound containing magnesium ions at a dose of 10 ⁻⁶ to 10 ⁻² mM,
(E) a compound containing potassium ions,
(F) glutamic acid or a salt thereof,
as well as,
(G) A method comprising pyruvic acid or a salt thereof.   Step (1) comprises contacting the sample with a repair medium, preferably a non-selective repair medium comprising the repair compound, and then contacting it with a growth medium, preferably a selective growth medium. The method of claim 1.   3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the repair medium is a liquid, preferably a bouillon.   4. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (1) comprises contacting the sample with a growth medium, preferably a non-selective growth medium, and then contacting it with a repair medium comprising the repair compound. the method of.   5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the repair medium is a selective repair medium, preferably a solid, more preferably a selective agar growth medium.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein step (1) comprises contacting the sample with a growth medium comprising the repair compound.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the growth medium is a buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) or a GVPC agar growth medium.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the repair medium and / or growth medium comprises keto acid and / or reduced oxygen scavenging enzyme. A kit for more accurately detecting and measuring viable microorganisms of Legionella pneumophila species in a sample suspected of containing the microorganisms,
(1) a repair compound,
(2) Growth medium
(3) incubation means,
(4) Means for detecting and quantifying microorganisms,
Including
The microorganism is Legionella pneumophila species, and the repair compound is (a) serine,
(B) threonine,
(C) a compound containing calcium ions,
(D) a compound containing magnesium ions,
(E) a compound containing potassium ions,
(F) glutamic acid or a salt thereof,
as well as,
(G) A kit containing pyruvic acid or a salt thereof.